William edward oehrle



6N0 Model.)

W. E. OEHRLE. ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

PatentedSept. 16, 1890.

W'ITNESSE'S UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EDWARD OEHRLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO OEHRLE BROS. & CO.

ELECTR|C CONDUCTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent I l'o. 436,432, dated September 16, 1890. Application filed May 28, 1890. Serial No. 353,460. (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern.-

of the elements, and to prevent leakage or vices have t6 be used in many and Be it known that I, WILLIAM EDWARD OEHRLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, Philadelphia county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Conductors, of which the following is aspec'ification.

My invention relates to electric conductors, and more especially to that class of conductors in which the wire is insulated, and is adapted to be used in connection with electric lights or other translating devices where a comparatively smallcurrent is used and where the conductor is required to be flexible; and the object of my invention is to produce such an insulated conductor, which, while retaining its flexibility and conducting qualities to the .fullest extent, shall be water, fire. and moisture proof, as well as non-inflammable, to a much greater degree than any similar conductor or cord now in use; and to these ends my invention consists in a conductor or cord constructed substantially as hereinafter set forth.

The accompanying drawingshows a perspective view of a portion of a conductor embodying my invention.

1 It is=well known that in the multiplicity of applications of electricity to the industrial arts it becomes necessary to provide conductors connecting the translating devices-such, for. instance, as incandescent lamps.-with the main conductors carrying the current from.

the generator, andas these translating depositions it becomes necessary to provide a flexible conductor which may be easily connected with the translating devicein almost any conceivable position and under all circumstances. It often happensthat these conductors or cords are exposed to the influences loss of current it is necessary that they should be moisture or water proof as well as electrically insulated from the surrounding material. Furthermore,;these conductors are often exposed to fire, either from the outside or from the heating efiects of the excessive :56 current passing throughthe conductor inside various of the insulating material, and it is well known that many extensive and destructive fires have resulted from the use of conductors not properly protected in this regard. These conductors, as a rule, are covered with some material, generally of a fibrous nature, which when once ignited will burn with greater or less speed, the fire following along the conductor, much like a fuse, until it reaches some inflammable part of the building or structure in which it is used, and a destructive fire is the result. Many attempts have been made to overcome these objections, some of which have resulted in interfering with the flexibility of the conductor or cbrd, or rendering it more expensive and being otherwise objectionable; and the object of my invention is to provide a conductor having all these desirable qualities and being being made at a reasonable cost and retaining its flexibility, conductivity, and insulation unimpaired.

In the drawing, A represents the metallic core or conductor of electricity, which may be a single wire, or, as shown, a number of small wires grouped or twisted together, the latter form being preferred. I have found that it furnishes a conductor which is extremely flexible and strong, and at the same time capable" of carrying a comparatively heavy electric still capable of current. This conductor is covered with'some I insulating material B, which in the present instance is shown as being of a fibrous nature, wound'round and round the conductor A. Over this insulating material B, I provide a coating or sheath 0 of some moisture proof or repellent material. In the present instance Y I have shown it consisting of a longitudinal strip of rubber, which is folded around so as.

to embrace the conductor and its insulating material and completely cover it and protect it from moisture or dampness. Over this moisture-repellent covering I apply another insulator D, which not only aidsin perfecting the insulation, but ,also in retainingthe moisture: repellent in position on the conductor. This insulator I have shown consistingof a strand or strip of fibrous material wound round the direction opposite conductor, preferably in a to tireinsulatingtmaterial a ass r32 B, and thus not only holding the moisture-repellent in place, but interfering to the least degree with the flexibility, of the conductor.

In order to render the conductor or core fire-proof at d to prevent the insulating material burning under any circumstances, I coat or cover the insulating material with a composition which renders it non-inflammable. This composition, which may vary in its constituents to some extent, preferably consists of alum, borax, magnesia, French chalk, plaster-ofparis, and silicate of soda. I have found that these materials may be combined in various proportions and still retain the advantageous features of the composition; but I preferably make use of them in the following proportions: Alum, borax, and plaster-ofparis, five parts each; French chalk,ten parts; magnesia, fifteen parts, and silicate of soda, sixty parts. The addition of these matters to the silicate of soda, which is the main in gredient, renders the composition less liable to crack or break when applied to the conductor, and at the same time increases, if possible, the non-infiaminability of the composition, as all of the ingredients are practically fire-proof.

This composition may be applied in many ways; but preferably it is applied in a liquid state by passing the conductor through the body of the liquid when the insulating material receives a coat or absorbs sufiicient of the fire-proof material to render it non-inflammable, but not to interfere in any material degree with its flexibility. Over this insulating material thus coated with the non-in flammable material I preferably apply a braided covering E, which may be of any material desired and of any style, color, or ornamentation. This is usually applied immediately after or atthe timethe non-inflamm able material is applied and becomes sufiiciently saturated or impregnated with the non-inflammable material to render it practically fire-proof.

In some instances the fire-proof material is applied to one or more of the coatings or insulations, and I do not limit myself to the use of it on any particular one, as it maybe used on each or all of them.

It will thus be seen thatl provide aflexible cord or-conductor in which the conducting- Wire is surrounded with insulating material, then covered with a water-repellent material, then covered with a non-inflammable and insulatin g material, and finally with a braided exterior surface, (I do not wish to be restricted from using the fire-proof solution upon each or all of the insulations,) the whole constituting an exceedingly flexible, compact, as well as moisture and fire proof conductor-cord, which is capable of being used under all the circumstances set forth Without danger of injury or destruction of the conductor or the surrounding material.

What I claim is- 1. A flexible electric conductor consisting of a core covered with an insulating material, a moisture-repellent material consisting of a longitudinal strip of rubber, an insulating material consisting of fibrous material coated with a non-inflammable composition, substantially as described, and an exterior braided covering, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A flexible electric conductor the insulating material of which is coated or covered with a composition consisting, essentially, ofalum, borax, magnesia, French chalk, plaster of-paris, and silicate of soda, substantially as described,

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM EDWARD OEHRLE.

I'Vitnesses:

ROBERT OSBORNE, Jr., JACOB H. LAICH. 

